Fresh Pumpkin

About

Pumpkin is a type of winter squash that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.

It’s native to North America and particularly popular around Thanksgiving and Halloween (1Trusted Source).

In the US, pumpkin typically refers to Cucurbita pepo, an orange type of winter squash. In other regions, such as Australia, pumpkin may refer to any type of winter squash.

While commonly viewed as a vegetable, pumpkin is scientifically a fruit, as it contains seeds. That said, it’s nutritionally more similar to vegetables than fruits.

Beyond its delicious taste, pumpkin is nutritious and linked to many health benefits.

Benefits

One cup of cooked pumpkin (245 grams) contains (2):

• Calories: 49
• Fat: 0.2 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 12 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Vitamin A: 245% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
• Vitamin C: 19% of the RDI
• Potassium: 16% of the RDI
• Copper: 11% of the RDI
• Manganese: 11% of the RDI
• Vitamin B2: 11% of the RDI
• Vitamin E: 10% of the RDI
• Iron: 8% of the RDI
• Small amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, folate and several B vitamins.